Spatiotemporal control of chemical microenvironment using oscillating microstructures
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsDaniel Ahmed, Stephen Benkovic, Tony Jun Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for generating a chemical gradient within a flow channel include providing at least one bubble support structure within the flow channel. A bubble support structure helps maintain a bubble at a predetermined location in flow channel when a fluid flow passes therethrough. Oscillations are induced in the bubble using acoustic waves, which may be provided by a piezoelectric transducer located proximate the flow channel. Two or more inlets provide fluids of different chemical compositions into the flow channel, and bubble oscillations are used to generate a dynamically controllable mixing process.
Claims20
An apparatus for generating a chemical gradient in a fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow channel, the flow channel having a first inlet configured to introduce a first fluid flow into the flow channel, and a second inlet configured to introduce a second fluid flow into the flow channel, the flow channel also comprising an outlet;
- the flow channel having a wall configured to contact the first fluid or the second fluid;
- a support structure located within the flow channel and extending into the flow channel from the wall and configured such that the first fluid and the second fluid may contact the support structure and the wall, the support structure including an opening in a downstream portion of the support structure, the support structure supporting an oscillating structure within the flow channel when the first and second flows are introduced into the flow channel;
- and
- an oscillatory energy field generator operable to produce oscillation in said oscillating structure,
- wherein excitation of said oscillating structure induces m1×mg of said first and said second fluid flows,
- the apparatus generating a chemical gradient having a time-dependence controllable using the oscillatory energy field generator.
An apparatus for generating a chemical gradient in a fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow channel, the flow channel being a microchannel configured to channel a liquid flow therethrough;
- a first inlet configured to introduce a first liquid into the flow channel;
- a second inlet configured to introduce a second liquid into the flow channel;
- a flow channel outlet;
- the flow channel having a wall configured to contact the first liquid or the second liquid;
- a bubble support structure located within the flow channel and extending into the flow channel from the wall and configured such that the first fluid and the second fluid may contact the support structure and the wall, the bubble support structure including an opening in a downstream portion of the bubble support structure, the bubble support structure configured to support a bubble within the flow channel when the liquid flow passes through the flow channel;
- and
- an acoustic transducer located proximate the flow channel, the acoustic transducer oriented to be operable to generate oscillations in the bubble using acoustic waves,
- the oscillations of the bubble capable of generating the chemical gradient in the liquid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.